On November 19, 2012, a New Jersey State Senate panel approved Bill S3, a version of Assembly Bill A2162 passed by a vote of 46-33-0 on May 24, which would boost the New Jersey minimum wage from $7.25 per hour, the current Federal minimum wage, to $8.50 per hour and tie future increases to the Consumer Price Index. Bill S3 is part of a compromise under which the Senate abandoned legislation that proposed a constitutional amendment to increase the minimum wage to $8.25 per hour, with future increases tied to the CPI.
The Senate was initially promoting a constitutional amendment in order to bypass an expected veto by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who had previously suggested that he would veto any minimum wage increase that is tied to the CPI. However, New Jersey State Senate leaders have vowed to revive the constitutional amendment legislation if Governor Christie vetoes Bill S3/A2162.
Bill S3 will next go before the full State Senate for consideration. The bill is sponsored by influential Senators Stephen M. Sweeney, Joseph F. Vitale, and Richard J. Codey and is likely to gain traction.
Originally published November 27, 2012
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